Chapter 8 - Pieces Falling into Place
Downstairs, the first pale light of dawn was beginning to seep through the kitchen blinds.
Lily was starting to stir on her temporary bed on the tile floor. Her tiny nose twitched, and her eyelids fluttered as she stretched her arms out wide.
Mark and I sat on the floor beside her. I gently ran my fingers through her long hair, whispering her name.
"Lily... sweetie, wake up."
Lily opened her eyes, blinking against the dim morning light. For a second, she looked disoriented, but as her gaze focused on my face, her eyes lit up with sudden, dazzling excitement.
"Mom!" she cried out, throwing her arms around my neck in a tight, desperate hug. "You're back! You're really back!"
"I'm back, baby," I murmured, holding her tightly, tears of happiness warming my cheeks. "I missed you so much."
"I waited for you right here," Lily said proudly, pulling back to look at me. "Dad said I should go to sleep in my room, but I didn't want to miss you when you came through the door."
"I know, my sweet girl," I said, kissing her forehead. "Dad told me everything."
Lily looked between Mark and me, noticing the faint blue paint smudges on my cheek and Mark's dusty clothes. She wrinkled her nose in confusion. "Why do you guys look like you've been digging for treasure?"
Mark chuckled, kneeling down next to us. "Well, funnily enough, Lily... we were digging for treasure. Upstairs. In your room."
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Lily's eyes widened with intense curiosity. "In my room? What were you doing in my room?"
Mark extended his hand to her. "Why don't you come up and see for yourself?"
